$105,000 Tax Break Ending December 31

Under current tax incentives you are allowed to expense or write off up to $105,000 in qualified equipment and technology purchases made in 2005. This includes computer software and hardware. It also includes digital radiography, cameras, diagnostics and communication systems. Following are some ideas on how you can spend your $105,000.

Basics: If you don’t have an office network yet with computers in the treatment rooms do it now. This is a crucial step in developing a truly high tech office. For the network to be successful you must also be using an established clinically based fully integrated practice management software, like Dentrix, PracticeWorks or EagleSoft.

Good management software

$8,000 (If you don’t already have it)

Network, switch, wiring, software and setup

$4,000

Treatment room computers (4)

$7,200

Server, with back up

$3,500

Front desk (2)

$1,700

Training

$1,000

Total

$25,400

Cameras: The most powerful tool in the dental office is a camera. It will help you do more and better dentistry. Digital high tech cameras have made taking and using photographs much easier faster and less expensive. You will use a digital camera for diagnosis, treatment planning, cosmetics, case presentation, lab communications, documentation and marketing. There are two types of digital cameras, a SLR type camera to take the place of a 35mm slide camera and a USB intraoral camera to take the place of an intraoral video camera. In order to use digital images the office must have good image management software like ImageFX, ADSTRA, Dentrix Image or Kodak.

Image management software

$4,000

Digital camera with flash and accessories

$2,000

USB intraoral camera

$2,000

Computer

$1,700 (If you don’t already have it)

Training

$1,000

Total

$10,700

Radiography: Digital radiography is to film radiography as word processing is to typing. Once the basics are in place and the office is using image management digital radiographs are the next logical step. There are two options corded or PSP (wireless).

Corded sensor

$8,000

Capture device (USB)

$2,000

Software

$4,000

Computer

$1,700 (If you don’t already have it)

Training

$500

Total

$16,200

PSP Scanner

$19,000

Software

$4,000

Computer

$1,700 (If you don’t already have it)

Training

$500

Total

$25,200

Panoramic: If you already have digital x-rays in place the next step will be to consider a digital panoramic. Kodak, Schick Gendex and even Suni have introduced great cost effective digital panoramics, for about $30,000. It is a direct digital capture with no need for developing, scanning, or retrofitting. This is not an inexpensive device, however if you evaluate the alternatives it is the least expensive way to get a digital panoramic and it is less complicated faster and gives better result than the alternatives.

Digital Pan

$30,000

Computer

$1,700 (If you don’t already have it)

Training

$500

Total

$32,200

Diagnostics: There are plenty of way cool high tech, digital diagnostic devices. These include radiographs, perio probes, mandibular tracking, shade matching, fiber optic endoscopes, 3-D imaging and more. Two Options: